Auto-theft signal



Oct. 9, 1923.

E. E. CHAPMAN AUTO THEFT S IGNAL Filed March 5, 1917' I Jim/enter.- arle 8 Chapman Patented Dot. 9,

. EARLE E. CHAPMAN, o Los- NGELEs, CALIFORNIA, Ass xenon" ronrtnnn onarivran COMPANY, or LOSIANGELES;CALIFQRNIAQA ooaronarrronbr;CALIFORNIA.

A To-rHEPui SIGNAL;

' f Application filed March 3,3917; seriaiiibl'152,235

To all whomit mag concern.

'Be it known that I, EARLE E. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States of America,- residing at Los Angeles, in the county of 'Los Angeles and State of California, "have invented a new "and useful -AutoTheft Signal, of 'which'the' followingis a specifical v V v I I This invention relates to a: flexible and adjustable device for attachment to a wheel of a vehicle, and adapted to serve as a preventive of theft of the same, by making a noise as the vehicle is moved, and by making a track r. .distinctive mark, enabling the vehicleto be traced.

The main object of the present invention is to make the protective device more adaptable than heretofore to the tire lor wheel on which, it'is placed, solas to reduce the.

and to the two parts 4 and 5 of a locking clamp, which are fastened together by keyoperated locking means 7. Said locking part at is provided with a flange 9 which overhangs the part 5, so as to cover the joint between said parts and prevent entrance of a picking tool, or of dirt. Bumping projection 6 on the bumping member 1 is provided with a die 11, adapted to leave a distinctive trace or track on the ground when the vehicle is moved. The uppermost or terminal links of the chains are connectedt'o the clamp parts 1 and 5 by means providing for adjustment, for example, byhookportions 13 on said links engaging many one of a plurality of slots '14 in lugs 15 on the respective parts 4 and By placing the hooks 13 in one or the other of these slots, the chain maybe lengthened or shortened as may be required to enable the device to fit with suflicient closeness around the tire and rim. Ifa greater amount of adjustment is required than can he initiated by; this -mgns, a? ask-ma be 1 taken off or"added'toithe"chain ateach side, j

the hook portions of the links being so shaped as to permit detachmentof the links when the device is "off ofthe' tire, but to .pre}

vent such detachment when the device is in position "on the tire." Theattaohing ch'ain is also provided with auxiliary bumping projections, for example, in alternate links, as indicated atj8.

The device ispl'aced around the tire and rim (indicated in dotted lines'at"16) and secured in position byllooking the parts 1 and 5 together. i/Viththe device so placed,

any attemptito run thejmachine will result in impact of. the bumping projectigm 6" on the pavement or roadway, causing sufficient noise to call' attention toth'e fact that th machine is beingmo'ved wrongfully, and also causlng an imprint or mark to'be left on-the roadway, which will facilitate tracing the machine.

Incase it is attempted to render the' "de-f- I to enable the'l chain to be turned around to vice inoperative by deflating the tires0- as another po'sitionfbne or'*mo're of theothe'r auxiliary bumping projections 8 will be brought into operative position, so as to.- still maintain the operativeness ofthe device and produce suflicient noise to give a notification that the machine is being moved by an unauthorized person. The flexibility of the device rendersit adaptable to the shape of the tire when in operation, so that it will yield somewhat'wi'th the tire, and the strain on the machine and on the tire will be thereby reduced;

It will be apparent that there is an advantage in combining the adjustable and flexible features in the described device for the reason that flexibility involves more or less looseness, and the adjustability provides for taking up the looseness, Similarly. the

plurality of auxiliary projections provides for bumping action even if the devices become twisted accidentally or intentionally.

a tire; and a series of bumping projec---- tions on said-members extending outwardly therefrom, said projections being in such numbers and so spaced that one of them will be in a position to strike the ground and lift the Wheel regardless of the transverse position of. said. members on said; tire, so that the signal cannot be rendered ineffective, by turning said members trans- .versely around on the Wheel;

2. An automobile theft signal: comprising" members fitting upon an automobile tire; means for locking saldgmembers on a tire;

and a series of bumping projections on said members extending outwardly therefrom, said projections being in: such numbers. and so spaced that one of them will: be in a position to strike the ground and lift the Wheel regardless of the transverse position of said members; on said tire, so that the signal cannot be rendered ineffective by turnlng sa d members transversely around on the: Wheel.

3. An automobile theft signal comprisi theft signal cannot be rendered ineffective by turning said structure transversely around on said tire.

e. An automobile theft signal. compris- I ing; an articulated structure fitting upon an automobile tire; means for. so locking, said structure that it cannotfbe. removed; from said-tire; and means so formed on said structure as to strike the ground and, lift dered ineffective by turning said structure transversely around: on said tire.

5. An automobile theft signal comprising astructure fitting upon an automobile tire; means for so locking said structure that it cannot be removed from said tire; and a series of humping projections so formed on said structure as'to strike the greunclandlift-then heel, imparting a bumping motionthereto, regardless of the transverse position of saidi structure on saidtire, so that said automobile theft. signal cannot be rendered inefl'ectiveby turning'said structure transversely around on said tire.

6. An automobile theft signal comprising: anv articulated structure fitting upon an: automobile tire; means for so looking said structure that it cannot be removed from tire; and. a series of b umping projections so formed on said structure as tostrike the ground and lift the Wheel, imparting a bumping motion thereto, regardless of the transverse position of said structure. on saidtire, so that said: automobile theft signal cannot be rendered ineffective by turning structure transversely around on said; tire' i In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Los Angeles, California, this 17th day of February, 1917.

EARLE E. CHAPMAN. 

